KARACHI: Pakistan International Container Terminal (PICT) has announced 100 percent waiver on demurrage charges of shipments which remained stuck at the port due to 12-day long strike by goods transporters.
Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Abdullah Zaki has warmly welcomed the decision. Zaki said that this waiver has been announced by PICT after a detailed meeting between PICT Chief Executive retired Capt. Zafar Iqbal Awan and Chairman of KCCI’s Sub-Committee for Ports, Shipping and Multi-Modal Transport, Asif Nisar in which this pressing issue was thoroughly discussed by KCCI’s representatives who succeeded in convincing PICT’s management to grant this much-needed relief.
“Asif Nisar has not only been instrumental in putting an end to goods transporters strike, which resulted in loss of billions of rupees, but has also played the key role in convincing PICT to completely waive off demurrage charges on various shipments which remained unattended at the port due to the strike”, he added.
Appreciating the gesture displayed by PICT Chief Executive retired Capt. Zafar Iqbal Awan towards providing relief to the perturbed business community, Zaki said that PICT has set a fine example for other container terminals to emulate, which, if practiced by the remaining container terminals, would help in reducing the grievances being faced by businessmen and industrialists, besides creating a conducive business atmosphere for all stakeholders.
Chairman of KCCI’s Sub-Committee for Ports, Shipping and Multi-Modal Transport, Asif Nisar said that PICT will not charge any demurrage charges for the twelve days during the goods transporters’ strike whereas demurrage charges, which have already been paid by businessmen during that period will be fully refunded by PICT through cheques.
He said that PICT management has also invited KCCI office bearers to pay a visit PICT so that they could exchange views on matters of mutual interest, bring problems being faced by the business community into limelight, and come up with suggestions on how to resolve various issues.
